SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — The Savannah River, Ohoopee River and Altamaha River will soon be open for commercial shad fishing.
Fishermen can take to the water starting on Jan. 1, 2025, and will run until midnight March 31, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).
The 2025 shad season includes the following specific regulations for rivers:
- The Altamaha River downstream from the Seaboard Coastline Railroad Bridge is open for commercial shad fishing Monday-Friday.
- Waters of the Altamaha River system upstream of the Seaboard Coastline Railroad Bridge and below the U.S. Highway 1 Bridge are open Tuesday – Saturday, including the Ohoopee River downstream of the U.S. Highway 1 Bridge.
- The Savannah River is open for commercial shad fishing downstream from the I-95 Bridge Tuesday - Friday.
- Waters upstream of the I-95 Bridge and below the U.S. Highway 301 Bridge are open Wednesday - Saturday.
- Only drift nets may be used downstream of a line between the mouth of Knoxboro Creek and McCoys Cut at Deadman's Point.
Closed areas:
- The Ogeechee, Satilla and the St. Marys rivers are not open to commercial shad fishing.
- All waters of the Altamaha river system above the U.S. Highway 1 Bridge, including the Ocmulgee and Oconee rivers, are closed to commercial fishing.
- All waters of the Savannah River above the U.S. Highway 301 Bridge are closed to commercial fishing.
Commercial fishermen have to have a valid Georgia commercial fishing license and a commercial fishing endorsement for shad. You can read more about the guidelines for nets and licensing on the WRD website.
For a complete set of commercial fishing regulations, visit Coastalgadnr.org/CommercialFishing or contact any of the following WRD law enforcement offices: Brunswick (912) 264-7237; Thomson (706) 595-4211 or Metter (912) 685-2145.